Associate - Criminal Defence - Bristol

An opportunity has arisen for a criminal defence solicitor or associate to join a busy national criminal defence sub-team within a wider commercial insurance practice, based in Bristol. The team handles a broad and often high-profile caseload across the UK, advising insurers and their insureds on criminal investigations, prosecutions and inquests.

The work spans serious and fatal motor prosecutions, health and safety and local authority/environmental prosecutions, complex care home and regulator-related cases, and high-profile inquest and director/officer matters. You will work within a large, established team that acts on significant cases across a range of sectors.

This is a hands-on role combining technical legal work with commercial judgement. You will manage cases against service-level agreements, analyse risk, prioritise competing demands and contribute to the efficiency of the practice group, while helping to develop business through training, presentations and legal updates for clients.

• 1–4 years' PQE with a background in criminal defence and/or regulatory work, including defending health and safety prosecutions.
• Strong overall academic record.
• Ability to apply technical expertise commercially to achieve positive outcomes on large, complex cases.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, with sound judgement and the ability to justify decisions to clients and colleagues.
• Self-motivated, able to work within a wider team and to support and guide more junior team members.
• Willingness to contribute proactively to business development, including delivering training and client updates.